I couldn’t believe I had him, really had him as my own. When he’d asked me to marry him, I’d been literally bowled over. And when I say literally, I meant it. I’d lost my balance.
Thankfully, we were just in my parents’ dining room. It had happened back in September. We were in New York so I could help some of the library branches with back-to-school initiatives. Ash’s generosity knew no bounds. He’d created the fund he’d originally agreed upon, to restore and keep the SoHo branch running for 20 years, and then kept right on going, establishing a whole foundation to supplement children’s programming in library branches throughout the city. I felt like a kid in a candy store, I had so many ideas and now had the means to help bring them to life. And even better than that was getting to go into other branches and talk to the long-suffering librarians about their wish lists—then wave a magic wand and expand their collection, or double their staffing, or fix their lighting, or whatever had been plaguing them for years on end. It was the best job in the world.
That and songwriting, of course. Now that Ash and I were together, that happened spontaneously, naturally, all the time. Sometimes naked. We made music together the way we talked, the way we made love. It was a natural expression of how we felt, and we didn’t have to think about it, it just happened when we were together. I didn’t know what exactly would come of it, but I did know I was excited to have the opportunity to find out.
And my parents, well, they were over the moon happy. I was so glad Ash proposed to me at my parents’ house, so they could be part of it. He’d asked my dad for his permission and then waited until after a Sunday family dinner. Then he’d dropped down on one knee and I could barely tell you what he said after that because it was as if all the blood rushed up into my head and the ocean was roaring in my ears and I was crying and then I wobbled right out of my seat and fell into his arms and we sort of tumbled-kissed-hugged together in the dining room.
“Does that mean yes?” Ash asked, laughing and hugging me.
“Yes,” I confirmed, wiping tears from my eyes.
“She always makes me wait.” He shook his head, referencing the fake proposal when I’d been so star struck and terrified on the stage in front of a live audience of thousands. I much preferred the real proposal in my parents’ dining room.
“You need anything?” Heath’s rough, deep voice boomed at me in the middle of Ash’s next song. Yes, he’d definitely been asked to keep an eye on me while Ash did his set. So sweet.
“No, thanks. I’m doing great.” And I meant it as I stood and swayed to the music, smiling up at my rock star fiancée. I had all I’d ever wanted. I didn’t need a thing.
THE END
More Books
Thank you for reading! Want more of Ash and his family? There’s more in this Beg For It series. Each book is a standalone and they can be read in any order.
Book 1: Unleashed (Declan & Kara). Rancher turned CEO Declan has one week of a no-holds-bargain with Kara, the one who got away. Click for more Unleashed
Book 3: Untamed (Heath & Violet). Mountain man Heath enjoys his self-sufficient life in a quiet Vermont town, until reality TV producer Violet shows up and rocks his world. Click for more Untamed
Book 4: Unbelievable (Colt & Caroline). Sparks fly when alpha billionaire CEO Colt meets feisty Caroline protesting his next building site. Click for more Unbelievable
Book 5: Undeniable (Dom & Gigi). Forced apart by circumstance, now Dom has to protect Gigi from a death threat. But who will protect her from him? Click for more Undeniable
Book 6: Unwrapped (Jack & Hannah). Jack and Hannah have their hands full preparing for a huge Kavanaugh Family Christmas charity gala. But can they keep their hands off each other? Click for more Unwrapped
Visit www.callieharperbooks.com for the 411 on all of my deliciously hot reads, and bonus chapters for all the Beg For It books, including Undone!
Turn the page for an exclusive sneak preview of my next release, “All of Need,” coming out in July 2017.
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Sneak Peek of All I Need
"It's just a job, how hard can it be?”
I was hired by his father to become his live-in caregiver. It sounded like an easy job. But the day I arrived at Ian’s broken-down Scottish castle I started to realize it might not be as easy as I thought.
I was not told that I'd be looking after a dark, brooding, rich man who drank his days away, mired in a world of pain.
I was not told that this man would push all my buttons and test even my strongest limits.
I was not told that he was devastatingly gorgeous with a wickedly, sinful mouth.
I was definitely not told that what I'd end up feeling and what he would propose would drive me wild. But I'm Annie and this is my new job. And damn it, I'm not going to let anything, even him, that gorgeous, sinful, delicious man, stand in my way.
You believe me? Don't you?
Excerpt from All I Need
“I've got a proposal for you. A bargain, an exchange of sorts.”
“Really?” My voice came out too breathy and eager as I sat next to Ian on the couch.
“I'll give you something that I haven't given anyone else. And in return you will give me the same.”
“That sounds... confusing.” I liked the idea of him sharing something with me and me alone, but what, exactly, did he want from me?
“I'll tell you all those secrets you're dying to know,” he continued.
“You will?”
“I will. I'll tell you anything about me that you want to know.”
This sounded too good to be true. “And in return?”
“You'll give me what you've never given anyone else.”
“What, tell you all my secrets?” I laughed. “I think I've already done that.” A closed book I was not.
He gave me an arch look, a wicked gleam in his dark eyes. “No, it's not something you're going to say to me. It's something you're going to do for me.”
When he looked at me like that, ravenous, as if he couldn’t wait to tear into me, I squirmed on the couch, heat building between my legs. “What is it, exactly, you want me to give you?” I whispered, then held my breath as I waited for his answer.
He spoke in a low voice like a near growl. “You're going to cum for me.”
Pulse racing, I sat up straight, not sure I’d heard him correctly. “What?”
“You are going to cum for me,” he repeated, reaching out to toy with a tendril of my hair. “For every secret I tell you, you’re going to give me an orgasm.”
My mouth parted in a gasp. “That's crazy!” I leapt up from the couch, cheeks burning, hands shaking.
He watched me, like a panther eying its cornered pray, knowing it might run but it could not hide. “Those are my terms.”
“I can’t believe this!” I took a few paces forward, then turned around and retraced my steps, shock and confusion mingling in me with something else I couldn't deny. I felt intrigued, aroused, and as much as I should've run from the room and quit on the spot, I stayed and asked, “What do you mean?”
“I'm flexible as to how you cum. I could make you cum. You could make yourself cum while I watch. Both would work for me.”
I flexed my hands up in the air, brought them down to my hair, settled them at my hips. I didn't know what to do with myself. “This is so wrong in so many ways.”
He gave me a devilish grin. “Doesn't that make it even more hot?”
“You’re insane.”
“You’re intrigued.”
“I'm going up to bed,” I declared, feeling very much as if I needed some distance. Had the fire leapt out of the fireplace? I was burning up.
“Enjoy thinking it over while you’re in bed.” He sounded so confident, as if this were all going according to plan, as if he was so sure he’d be on my mind. I huffed and I puffed as I started for the door.
“Just remember,” he continued. “If you make yourself cum tonight, it'll be much more intense with me.”<
br />
Of all the nerve. I stormed up the stairs and stomped into my bedroom. My poor toothbrush, I abused it, shoving it under the water, covering it with too much toothpaste, roughing it up around my teeth before I threw it to the sink basin.
I should leave. I should jump into my car and drive off. Though, of course, I didn't have a car. And it was dark, in the middle of the night. I had no choice but to climb into bed, staying and stewing over what he'd said to me.
People didn't say things like that to each other. It was ridiculous. Who did he think I was? I'd never felt so shocked and insulted.
And turned on. My skin burned. Twisting beneath the sheets, I kept picturing his face, handsome in the firelight, his eyes dark with promise. The feel of his powerful shoulder, the bulk of muscle underneath my fingers.
How arrogant of him to assume that no man had made me cum before! Even if he was right. And Ian could make me cum. I knew he could. He lit my whole body on fire with just a kiss. What would it feel like to have him do more, have him touch me and bring me pleasure like no one else ever had?
I tossed in my bed, punching my pillow, trying to get comfortable. What was I doing, even letting myself wonder about how it would feel to open myself up to him like that? There was no way I could say yes, and it wasn’t just because his proposal offended my prim sense of propriety.
The real reason I had to say no was because to him it would just be a game. For me? The second he made me cum my eyes would pop into hearts, rainbows and moonbeams filling my brain as I swooned and fell deeply in love. I was already halfway there and all we’d done was kiss.
I felt too agitated, too worked up, and I couldn’t resist any more. I snuck my hand down between my thighs. Under my panties, my eyes closed as I slipped in my fingers and discovered how wet I was. I felt so slick and warm on my fingertips as I stroked. I'd been wet all night. Even though Ian’s words had offended my mind, they'd inflamed my body.
Sighing in surrender, I did exactly as he told me. I worked myself in a rhythm, parting my legs, imagining letting him touch me like that, his fingers right where mine were, stroking, giving me exactly what I needed. He’d be strong and sure, feasting on my responses, coaxing out so much pleasure until I shuddered and trembled in his arms. I bit back my cry of release, panting in the dark, not wanting to get caught.
Because I had a secret. While I might have managed to say no to his proposal, deep within, my answer was yes. Putting myself in his capable hands to do as he pleased was exactly what I wanted.
All I Need will be available in July, 2017. To be notified as soon as it’s live and take advantage of an introductory, limited-time 99c price, sign up here: http://eepurl.com/bHtVnT I show my newsletter subscribers love by only sending emails to announce a new release or a sale, or to give away something for free!
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About the Author
Callie Harper writes hot, fun, page-turning romances. She is powered by coffee, wickedly sexy bad boys, and all things funny, intentional or otherwise. Born on the East Coast where she learned the joys of fast-paced sarcastic banter, she and her family are now kickin’ it in the West Coast sunshine. On any given day there’s a good chance you’ll find Callie outdoors enjoying the gorgeous Bay Area, but if she’s indoors she’ll likely be reading, writing or eating, preferably all at once.
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Email: [email protected]
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Acknowledgements
My first thanks goes to my husband, for his support in all things great and small. You rock my world. Next goes to my children, who make me laugh every day and always remind me what really matters in life.
Thank you to my readers! I’m so glad you picked up Untamed. I hope you’ll be back for more. You make it fun to write!
A huge shout out to all my beta readers and to my ARC readers who helped spread the word about Untamed.
A special thank you to Sophie. You are organized, funny, kind, patient, creative and an all-around joy to work with. I’m so grateful to know you!
Perfect Pear Creative designed the fantastic cover. A big thank you to helpmeedit.net for proofreading. Thanks to Kylie and the rest of the group at Give Me Books and all of the other wonderful bloggers who’ve invited me to do takeovers, shared their reviews of my ARCs, posted freebies and generally helped spread the Callie Harper word!
Thank you to all of the fantastic, entertaining writers I adore reading. An enormous thank you to Lauren Blakely for her advice, encouragement, humor and friendship. You blow me away with your generosity!
Undone: A Fake Fiancé Rockstar Romance Page 48